Written by: Jack Thompson

Robert James Waller: The Bridges of Madison County Author

Robert James Waller, an American author, professor, photographer, and musician, is best known for his iconic novel "The Bridges of Madison County", which catapulted to the top of the New York Times bestseller list in 1993. This romantic tale of a whirlwind affair between a National Geographic photographer and a housewife in rural Iowa resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 60 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling novels of all time.

Early Life and Education

Waller was born on August 1, 1939, in Charles City, Iowa, and grew up in Rockford, Iowa. He married Georgia Ann Wiedemeier in 1961 and went on to earn his BA in 1962 and MA in 1964 from the University of Northern Iowa (then known as Iowa State Teachers College). He later earned his PhD in business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington in 1968.

Academic Career

After completing his PhD, Waller returned to the University of Northern Iowa, where he taught management and economics. He became a full professor in 1977 and later served as the founding dean of the College of Business from 1980 to 1986. During his tenure, he also directed the university's International Business Institute.

Writing Career

Waller's writing career began in 1992 with the publication of "The Bridges of Madison County", which became an instant success. He went on to write several more novels, including "Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend" (1993), "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze" (1995), "Border Music" (1995), and "A Thousand Country Roads: An Epilogue" (2006). His works have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Awards and Honors

Waller's writing has been recognized with several awards, including the New York Times Bestseller Award, the Publishers Weekly Bestseller Award, and the People's Choice Award. He was also inducted into the Iowa Literary Hall of Fame in 2003.

Personal Life

Waller's personal life was often shrouded in controversy. His 1997 divorce from his wife of 36 years, Georgia Ann Wiedemeier, made headlines, with some drawing parallels between his marriage and the plot of "The Bridges of Madison County". He later married Linda Bow in 2004. Waller passed away on March 10, 2017, at the age of 77, after battling multiple myeloma.

Legacy

Robert James Waller's legacy extends beyond his writing. He inspired a new generation of romance authors and helped to put Iowa on the literary map. His work continues to be celebrated for its poetic prose, vivid descriptions of the American heartland, and its exploration of the human experience.

• Did you know that Waller was a talented musician and released an album, "The Ballads of Madison County", in 1995?
• Waller's novel "Puerto Vallarta Squeeze" was adapted into a film in 2004, starring Craig Wasson and Gabrielle Anwar.
• In 2003, Waller donated over 1,000 acres of Iowa land to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Through his writing and his life, Robert James Waller left an indelible mark on the literary world, inspiring countless readers and writers to explore the beauty and complexity of the human experience.